Plunger-type machine for washing, dyeing, or otherwise treating clothes or other fabrics with liquids



July 28, 1925;

, DYEING, OR OTHERWISE W. S. C. GLQVER PLUNGER TYPE MACHINE FOR WASHING TREATING CLO-THES OR OTHER FABRICS WITH LIQUIDS Filed July 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR July 28, 1925 W. S. C. GLOVER PLUNGER TYPE MACHINE FOR WASHING, DYEING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING CLOTHES OR OTHER FABR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 105 WITH LIQUIDS Filed July 29, 1924 Fig.5.

I Patented July 28, 1925.

' UNITED STATES 1,547,212 PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM STEPHEN COX GLOVER, OF OXFORD, ENGLAND.

PLUNGER-TYPE MACHINE FOR WASHINGQDYEING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING CLOTHES OR OTHER- FABRICS WITH LIQUIDS.

Application filed July 29, 1924. Serial 1%. 728,887;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STEPHEN Cox GLovER, a British subject, residing 'at Oxford, county of Oxford, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plunger-Type Machines for "Waslr ing, Dyeing, or Otherwise Treating Clothes or Other Fabrics with Liquids, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to improvements 1n apparatus of the plunger type, for washing, dyeing or otherwise treating clothes or other fabrics with liquids.

This invention comprises a machine in which the fabrics being treated are placed in a perforated or open mesh receptacle capable of being moved vertically in a l quor container by the action of a plunger, the movement of which plunger first lowers the perforated or open mesh receptacle into the liquor, then exerts a squeezing or pressing action'on the fabric in the receptacle, then releases the pressure on the fabric and finally lifts the receptacle from the liquor. The invention comprises further means for ensuring the circulation of the liquor through the fabrics during treatment and means for ridding the'fabrics of a large proportion of the liquor which would other- 7 wise be retained by them before their removal from thecage when the treatment in that container is completed;

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

Fig. 1. is a transverse section of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an elevation from rear of machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of plunger clutch mechanism.

Fig.4 is a sectional plan of Fig. 3 on line Fig. 5 is a front elevation partly in section of machine adapted tobe operated by hand. i I

Fig.'6 is a transverse elevation partly in section of same.

The machine comprises a container A into which the washing or dyeing liquor is placed. Inside the 'c'ontainerA is a cage B containing the fabrics to be treated, the cage B being provided with perforations bin the.

bottom and sides to admit o'fthe liquor in the container A entering therein. A-plunger C is given a reciprocating motion within the cage from a crank shaft D driven by a continuously rotating pulley F The container A is formed with a movable bottom A on to which the cage B rests when in the lower position. The bottoni A consists of a series of laths 0} carried on pivots a affixed to the sides of the container A. Each pivot a is connected to a rod A by a link a so that by moving the rod A the laths may be rotated into a vertical position thereby preventing the cage 13 from descending to the bottom of the conta ner. When in this position a large proportion of the liquor can be squeezed out of the fabrics in the cage and so retained in the container when the cage and fabrics are removed. A handle a outside the container A is provided on the rod A for operating the laths a with means for preventing the escape of the liquor round the outlet.

The perforated cage B is provided with a flange 72 around its upper edge formed with lugs 5 adapted to engage the. arms B of a spider loosely carried on the rod C- of the plimger G; a bearing surface a mounted on the plunger C is arrangedto come in contact, with the central portion of the spider on, the upward stroke of the plunger C whereby the spider and cage B are raised with the plunger C. Each of the arms B carries'a roller 6 adapted to bear on the sides of the container A. A pin 6" is employed for locking the arms B of the spider to the cage B during operation. The lugs b are disengaged from the arms B by a partial rotation of the spider.

The plunger 0 is carried by a connecting rod C C pivoted to a lever D fulcrumed on 'a stationary part of the machine. The

lever D receives an oscillating motion from a crank shaft D througha connecting rod the lever D flthe position of the bracket cl on theleverD being adjusted by a screwed rod d and hand.wheel d to vary the throw of the lever D The plunger rod C is formedin two parts C C,- one part C connected tothe lever D and the other C te the plun r or disc 0. The upper part C consists 0 two links which extend down for sonie distance alongside the lower part C which carries a projection c adapted to engage two spring clips 0 carried by the links C A ringc is employed for varying the pressure between the projection c and the clips 0 Thus when the pressure of the plunger on the fabrics in the cage exceeds a predetermined amount the projection 0 moves out of engagement with the clips 0 and the upper rod C is free to complete its normal movement without moving the piston or disc C. When the upper rod 0 moves upwards again, the projection a re-engages the clips '0 and moves the plunger C up again to the upper end of the stroke The plunger C is formed with a flap or other valve 0 arranged to open when the plunger is on its downward stroke to allow some of the liquor in the cage B to escape therethrough and so ensure circulation of the liquor in the container A.

One member E of a dog or other clutch E is keyed on to the crank shaft D adapted to engage the second member E which is mounted on a continuously driven pulley or gear wheel F loosely mounted on the shaft and bearing against a collar f pinned to the shaft. The member E of the clutch E is disengaged from the member E by a forked lever F carried on the frame operated by a hand or foot lever. E has been disengaged from the member E carried on the pulley F a bevel wheel F mounted on the member E is brought into engagement with a second bevel wheel F carried on the frame and connected to a hand wheel 7 bywhich the crank shaft D may be rotated to bring the plunger C to the top of its stroke in order thatthe fabrics or the cage B may be removed from the container A. A battery of containers may be worked simultaneously by providing additional cranks on the shaft D as shown by the dotted lines on Fig. 2.

The action of the machine is as follows When the crank D is at its highest position the cage B is resting on the bottom of the container and the plunger or disc 0 has moved down inside the cage B exerting the required pressure on the fabrics therein to press out the liquor therefrom- As the crank D rotates,-the plunger or disc C is raised from the fabrics in the cage leaving them loose, and when it reaches the spider bracket clipped to the top of the cage B its further movement raises the cage and its contents through the liquor, allowing the liquor to accumulate in the bottom of the container. As the crank D commences to ascend after reaching the bottom of the stroke, the cage B is lowered, through the liquor in the container A, and the mass of liquor at the bottom, owing to its own inertia and the relative smallness of the space between the Sides When the member.

ofthe' cage and the container, is forced through the perforations in the bottom of the cage thereby lifting all the fabrics'and causing them to float about in the liquor. When the cage reaches the bottom of the container the piston or disc continues its downward movement and forces the fabrics through this fresh liquor in the cage, and finally squeezes or presses the liquid out of the fabrics, the cycle of operations then being repeated. I

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the machine is arranged for operation by hand or by foot. The liquor is contained in a'container A and the fabrics to be treated placed in a net cage B carried by the plunger C. The lever D is in this case A machine in which all the goods are. in.

succession (1) squeezed (2) lifted through the liquor (3) allowed to float about in t e liquor so as to obtain thorough saturation.

A machine in which the goods to be washed are kept in a container and moved about in the liquor without rotary or centrifugal action and without mechanical parts or projections moving about amongst them. i

A machine in which an adjustable counterweight is used to balance, the load and reduce the power needed to operate the machine.

A machine adapted to extract as much of the washing liquor as possible from the goods before they are removed'from the machine.

The apparatus may be adapted for use with an ordinary domestic washing tub or portable copper when the frame would be mounted on a lid adapted to fit on the tub or copper and/or the plunger made spherical to give correct pressure in a spherical bottomed receptacle.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for treating fabrics with liquid the combination with an outer container for the liquid of a plunger working therein, and a perforated or 'openmesh re 'ceptacle for the fabric moved up and down in the outer container by the action vof the plunger, the movement of the plunger first lowering the fabric receptacle into the liquid, then exerting a squeezing action on the fabric, then releasing the pressure on the fabric and finally lifting the fabric recepf tacle from the liquid.

2. In a machine for treating fabrics with liquid the combination with an outer container for the liquid of a receptacle for the fabrics to be treated, slidable vertically in the outer container, a plunger moving in the cage, means for reciprocating the plunger in the cage and container, means whereby the plunger will lift the cage when it reaches the top thereof and means whereby the downward movement of the plunger in the cage willbe stopped when the pressure of the plunger on the articles therein has reached a predetermined value.

3. In a machine for treating fabrics with liquid the combination with an outer container for the liquid of a receptacle for the fabrics to be treated movable-vertically in the outer container, a plunger moving in the container operated through a connecting rod from a lever pivoted to the frame of the machine, a balance wei ht on the reverse end 4. In a machine for treating fabrics with liquid the combination with an outer container for the liquid of a receptacle for the fabrics to be treated, slidable vertically in the outer container, a plunger moving in the cage, means for reciprocating'the plun-V ger in the cage and container, means connected with a continuously rotating shaft for driving the plunger, andmeans for automatically disconnecting the plunger from said driving means when the pressure of the plunger on the fabric exceeds a predetermined amount.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM STEPHEN ,COX GLOVER.

Witnesses:

' J. OWDEN OBRmN,

GEORGE H. OBRIEN. 

